Shloka 32

Bhu-maṇḍala-varṇanam

Description of the Earth-Maṇḍala, the Seven Continents, and Meru

Devanagari script

गिरीनतीत्य सकलांश्चतुर्द्दिक्षु महांबुधिम् । सा ययौ प्रयता सूता गंगा त्रिपथगामिनी

Transliteration

girīnatītya sakalāṃścaturddikṣu mahāṃbudhim | sā yayau prayatā sūtā gaṃgā tripathagāminī

Translation

ಎಲ್ಲ ಪರ್ವತಗಳನ್ನು ದಾಟಿ, ನಾಲ್ಕು ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾಸಮುದ್ರದ ಕಡೆಗೆ, ಆ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಗಂಗಾ—ಶುದ್ಧವೂ ನಿಯತವೂ ಆಗಿ—ಪ್ರವಾಹವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗಿದಳು; ಅವಳು ತ್ರಿಪಥಗಾಮಿನಿ।

Word by Word

• गिरीन्: mountains
• गिरीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object of gerund)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अतीत्य: having crossed/passed beyond
• अतीत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; धातुः—इ (गत्यर्थे), उपसर्गः—अति; अर्थः—‘अतिक्रम्य’

• सकलान्: all
• सकलान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘गिरीन्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चतुर्-दिक्षु: in the four directions
• चतुर्-दिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; समासः—चतुर् + दिशः (द्विगु: ‘चतस्रः दिशः’)

• महाम्बुधिम्: the great ocean
• महाम्बुधिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महा + अम्बुधिः (कर्मधारयः)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रयता: restrained, disciplined
• प्रयता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘सा/गङ्गा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + यत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘प्रयत’ (= संयत/नियतम्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूता: impelled/urged (as a stream)
• सूता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘गङ्गा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to ‘सा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिपथगामिनी: moving in three paths (heaven/earth/netherworld)
• त्रिपथगामिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of ‘गङ्गा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—त्रयः पन्थानः यस्याः सा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-समासः: ‘त्रिपथं गच्छति’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Ganga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It praises Gaṅgā as “tripathagāminī,” a purifier whose flow symbolizes grace moving through all realms—helping bound souls (paśu) loosen bondage (pāśa) and turn toward the Lord (Pati), Śiva.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Gaṅgā is intimately linked with Saguna Śiva (often envisioned on His matted locks). Her sanctifying flow supports tīrtha-bhakti—bathing, offering water, and consecrating worship—commonly associated with Liṅga-pūjā and Śiva’s accessible, compassionate form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-snāna (ritual bathing) with remembrance of Śiva, followed by offering Gaṅgā-jala to a Śiva-liṅga while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for inner purification.